title: Veteran eye disease after eligibility reform: prevalence and characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of eye disease in new "routine" eye patients at the Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of all new eye patients seen in the Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center Comprehensive Eye Clinic over a 2-month period (January 1, 2008-February 28, 2008).
  
  
  METHODS
  691 charts met inclusion criteria, with 33 charts excluded for insufficient documentation in the medical record. This left a total of 658 charts for the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts were reviewed for the following information: demographic data, vision, ocular diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes), and planned minor/laser/incisional surgical procedures. Additional data collected included whether glasses were prescribed and legal blindness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vision-threatening ocular diagnoses and need for minor/laser/incision surgery were tabulated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a very high prevalence of potentially blinding disease in this population of new "routine" eye patients. About 63.4% of veterans were diagnosed with at least one ocular diagnosis other than refractive error; 25% had glaucoma or were suspects, 6% had cataracts, 5% had age-related macular degeneration, and 8% required a surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of ocular pathology is high in the veteran population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical Services, Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road MC 112E, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA.
authors.forename: April Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Maa
authors.forename: Centrael
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Delaune
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D055815:Young Adult